The number of trainers affected by the caffeine-contaminated feedstuffs investigation is described by the NHA’s racing control boss Arnold Hyde as “multiple.”
But a date for the hearing has still to be agreed. However a widespread belief that the trainers concerned will be charged with a breach of the rules could yet prove to be premature.
Hyde said: “No charges have been preferred yet. I am not saying that they won’t be or that they will be. That’s for the Inquiry Board to decide. My job is to put everything before the Board.”
However a number of the trainers affected are taking no chances and have already engaged ace defence lawyer Robert Bloomberg to act for them.
There have been suggestions – from certain trainers, not from the NHA - that the levels of caffeine are higher than the threshold levels by quite a significant amount. One trainer is understood to have been unhappy about the feedstuffs and so privately sent samples for analysis. The tests showed traces of caffeine and so presumably he is in the clear.
The whole matter has now been dragging on for some months and Hyde said: “Hopefully we will progress soon.”
An added complication is that the positives are expected to have included winners – unless, and this seems unlikely, they all came from non-racecourse tests – and under the rules these will have to be disqualified.
Justin Snaith, fresh from all his Met day triumphs, will train both the R4 million Frankel colt that topped the CTS Premier Yearling Sale and the R3 million Captain Al who was the joint highest priced filly. Both were bought by John Freeman for Jack Mitchell and his daughter Nancy.
Andreas Jacobs’ Maine Chance Farms has gone into a 50:50 partnership with Highlands Stud for the R3 million Silvano filly bought by Amanda Skiffington. No trainer has yet been decided on.
Sun Met winner Oh Susanna has been raised seven points by the handicappers to a new mark of 115 but Majorca-winning stable companion Snowdance remains seven points below her on 108 despite proving over three lengths the better in the Cape Fillies Guineas.
Met runner-up Last Winter has gone up 12 points to 119 and third-placed Marinaresco stays on 118 but Legal Eagle (fourth) has been dropped a kilo to 121.
Sergeant Hardy has been upped five points to 117 for his Cape Flying victory but second-placed Trip To Heaven has come down four to a new mark of 114.
Anthony Delpech is now as short as 1-5 to win his fourth jockeys’ championship. He went into yesterday’s Scottsville meeting just two off his century, with a strike rate of over 25% and a 21-winner lead over his nearest pursuer, the busy Lyle Hewitson who is 6-1 second favourite.
World Sports Betting also goes 7-1 Gavin Lerena (54 winners), 14-1 Callan Murray (61), 16-1 four-time champion Anton Marcus (63), 20-1 Aldo Domeyer (67), 40-1 and upwards others.
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